A Brief History of the Traverse Health Clinic

The Community Health Clinic developed its roots in 1975 as a free clinic when several physicians very informally began providing health services without compensation to people who could not afford to pay. Over the years, the “clinic” began to expand as many practitioners volunteered their services. Likewise, demand for services grew and the clinic developed into much more than a walk-in acute care clinic, becoming a health care home for thousands in the community.

In 2003, the Grand Traverse Regional Health Care Coalition was formed to address access to health care services in Benzie, Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. Its main approach was to develop, implement and manage programs, but not provide direct care. It expanded the volunteer provider network started by the “clinic” to include approximately 400 physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, podiatrists, optometrists, hospitals and various provider organizations and clinics.

In 2007, these two complementary organizations merged and continue with the mission of providing access to health care services for those in the community in need. The merged organization is called the Traverse Health Clinic.

Today, as people come to us, they are given access to primary care and a fairly comprehensive array of services at no or low cost.

Traverse Health Clinic is the ONLY community service which offers access to comprehensive health care services for the uninsured and underinsured in our region.